NJ cop charged in fatal shooting following 'road rage' incident

A road rage incident caused both vehicles involved to pull over, and as one man approached, the second, a cop, fired

By Ben Weathers
The Capital

GAMBRILLS, Md. — New Jersey police officer has been charged with gunning down a Millersville man following a road rage incident Saturday night in Gambrills.

Joseph Walker, 40, has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter. Walker is being held at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center on a $1 million bond, Maryland State Police said.

State police spokeswoman Elena Russo confirmed Sunday morning that Walker is a police officer with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey.

Walker is charged with shooting Joseph Harvey Jr., 36, of Old Mill Road.

The shooting occurred around 8:30 p.m. on the ramp from northbound Route 3 onto Interstate 97. Harvey was taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie where he was pronounced dead.

A preliminary investigation indicates that Harvey was driving a Honda Accord and that Walker was driving a Kia minivan, both of which were parked on the shoulder of the ramp when the shooting occurred.

Police received information that a road rage incident occurred between the two vehicles before they pulled onto the shoulder, state police said.

Investigators believe that Harvey and another man riding as a passenger got out of the Honda. Harvey approached the mini-van while the other man remained standing near the Honda.

The minivan was parked between 100 and 150 feet behind the car, state police said.

As Harvey approached, Walker got out of the driver's side of the mini-van and announced he was a police officer. State police said that Harvey reportedly continued to approach Walker in an aggressive manner.

Walker then fired a .45 Glock striking Harvey, state police said.

Walker was also taken to the BWMC complaining of chest pains. As of Sunday afternoon, Walker was waiting to appear before a court commissioner.

The state police's homicide unit is continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is encouraged to call the Glen Burnie Barrack at 410-761-5130.